Ratchet wrench



June 23; 1925.

L. NEAL ET AL RATGHET WRENCH Filed Sept. 19. 1924 iii? F r-ii www lr 6/4: I 22 6' /5 I F 4' lit-1% ML. Clark Patented June 23, 1925.

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LOTJ'TS NEAL. AND MATTHEW L. CLARK, OF CARBONDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOM F TO SAID NEAL, ONE-FOURTH 'I'O SAID CLARK, AND ONE-FOURTH T0 WHOM COSGRGVE, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

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Application filed September To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, Louis NEAL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Carbondale, in the county of Lackawanna and.

State of Pennsylvania, and Mn'rrnnw L. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Garbondale, in the county of Lackawanna and Stem of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Ratchet Wrench, of which the following is a s ecification.

An object of the invention is the provision of a simple and eficient ratchet wrench which may be constructed at a minimum of cost, since the main parts thereof are stamped out of sheet metal.

Another object is the rovision of a wrench of this type which can e used to advantage in removing, replacing, or adjusting the nuts of friction band shafts in automobile trans mission. Although primarily intended for this purpose, it. is to be understood that the wrench is of great value wherever there is a limited workin space.

A still further e o the provision of a wrench which will retain the removed nut and washer, if any, and allow them to be removed with the 'wrench'. The nut and washer can also be replaced in the same manner. I

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description andthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete wrench,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with a portion broken away,

on the line 3-3 of .Fig. 3 is a section Fig. 2, and

Fi 4 is a bin view of the blank from whic the hen leis made.

A blank 1 of the form shown in Fig. 4 is stamped out of sheet metal, and is rovided with enlarged end portions provi ed with circular p penings 2 and with holes 3, 4, 5 and 6. is blank is bent at the middle 7 to form two parallel members 8 forming a handle. A hub 9 rovided with a ratchet 10 fits revolubly within the openings 2, the ratchet being larger'in circumference than the openings 2 and bein sprung in between the two members 8. a hub is provided feet or the invention is members are slid to the 19, 1924. Serial No. 738,663.

with a hexagonal or other non-circular opening 11 to fit over bolts or nuts.

An operating member 12 is pivoted on a bolt 13 which passes through the'openings 3 and connects the two members 8. This member 12 is stamped out of sheet metal and fits between the two side members 8. It is normally urged to the position shown in the drawings against a stop 14 which passes through the holes 6 in the members 8 by a spring 15. This spring is pivoted near its middle by a turn around the in 16 and has one end hooked over the pin 1 These pins pass through the openings 4 and 5 respectively. The free end 18 of the spring bears against the operating member 12.

In an opening 19 in the inner end of the member 12 fits aisimilarly shaped end of a pawl 20, the outer end of which engages the ratchet 10. A flat spring 21, one end of which is held in a slit in the member 12, holds the pawl in engagement with 'llllB ratchet. The extreme end 22 of the member 12 is spaced from the pawl 20.

A flat spring member 23 with slightly outturned ends has a slot 24: by which the member is retained and permitted to slide on the pivot pin 13. It also has an elongated indented portion 25 which slides over the projecting end of the pin 16. In this mannor the spring member 23 may have sliding movement but will always be held in proper osition. There is one of these spring memhers on each side of the wrench.

When the device is to be used the spring osition when the lower end of the slot 24 in ig. 1 engages the pivot bolt 13. The opening 11 is then placed over the bolt or nut to be turned. One

spring member 23 is then moved over the nut A and the other over the washer B as shown in Fig. 3. When the nut is unscrewed, the nut and washer will be retained between these spring members and may be lifted out by the wrench without any danger of dropping. The nut and washer may be re laced in the same manner.

on the wrench is dplaced over the nut, the latter may he turns by moving the handle 8, since the pawl and ratchet will prevent relative movement of the ratchet and handle in the direction in which it is desiredtotumthenuhOrifthsspmis too limited to allow this movement to take lace readily, the operating member 12 may moved in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2. This will actuate the pawl to turn the ratchet (and consequently the 'nut) a short distance. Upon release of the pres- Sure, the spring 15 will move the member 12 outwardly, and the operation may be repeated rapidly as often as desired. Upon each return movement. the pawl will engage a succeedim tooth of the ratchet.

if the holding spring members 23 are not needed they he moved to the inoperal tive position in Figwre 1v lit will be evident that we we devised a ratchet wrench by hi or bolts may be removed wl is chance oi reaching; them read ordinary wrench, an by very sl .nt movement. While especially adapted for removing nuts from a friction band shaft in a transmission case, it is ohvious that it is adapted for use in many laces where it is not ossible to use the or dinary wrench and w ere only slight motion is possible. .By stamping the two main arts out of sheet metal, the cost of manw acture is greatly reduced.

Details may be varied without in any Way departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be regarded as limited only by the sco e of the appended claims.

We c airs as our invention:

1.- A ratchet wrench comprising spaced metal strips having registering openings in one end, a huh revoluhly carried in said ensuing and provided with ratchet teeth on its periphery lying between the strips, an

wardly, and means slidable on said strips adapted to hold a nut and washer when unscrewed by the wrench.

2. A ratchet wrench comprising a handie, a member havin ratchet teeth on its periphery carried at the end thereof, a lever pivoted to the handle, a pawl carried by the ever and engaging the ratchet teeth, and slidahle means carried by the handle and adapted to hold a nut and washer when anscrewed by the wrench.

3. A ratchet wrench comprising a handle,

a member having ratchet teeth on its periphery carried at the end thereof, a lever pivoted to the handle, a pawl carried Toy the lever and engaging the ratchet teeth, and slideble spring plates carried by the handle and adapted to hold a nut and washer when unscrewed by the wrench.

4. A ratchet wrench comprising a handle, a member having ratchet teeth on its periphery carried at the end thereof, a lever pivoted to the handle, a pawl carried by the lever and engaging the ratchet teeth, slidahle spring plates having slots engaging the lever pivot and elongated tions, and a pin engaging in said indented portions to guide sald plates.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names. LOUIS NEAL.

L. CLARK,

iii)

indented por- 

